Mail-transporting apparatus.



W. J. H. SCHNEIDER. MAIL TRANSPORTING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED JUNE II. 1915- 1,1 97,767. Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Wi t/1mm W. J. H. SCHNEIDER.

MAIL TRANSPORJING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE H, 1915.

Z SHEETSSHEET 2.

Wihwoom UNITED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. H. SCHNEIDER, OF PLYMOUTH, NEBRASKA.

MAIL-TRANSPORTING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 11, 1915.

'1 b all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. H. SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of J efferson and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Transporting Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improved mail transporting device of that class in which an elevated carrier is employed for use, on mail routes, especially rural mail routes for car- "ying mail between a gate or other point an a road and a house situated some distance therefrom, the object of my invention being to provide improved apparatus of this kind which is cheap and simple in construction and may be readily erected.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of mail transporting apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing a curve in the line. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of one of the end posts and its connections. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the same at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the mail boX, and showing the track rope in cross section. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of one of the intermediate posts and one of the operating cord supporting rollers.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide end posts 1, erected one at the house and the other at the gate or other terminus and I also provide intermediate posts 2 which are arranged at suitable distances apart. The posts 2 nearest the post 1 are not so high as the other intermediate posts, to facilitate the starting of the mail box from the ends of the line. Each post is provided on one side at its upper end with a bracket 3 which extends laterally and upwardly therefrom and terminates at the upper end in a vertical arm 4. A track rope '5 which in practice is preferably a wire rope of suitable thickness, is secured on the upper ends of the bracket arms 4 by U- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 33,541.

shaped clips 6, as shown in detail in Figs. 3-4. Said track rope is stretched tightly between the posts.

The mail box 7 is provided in one side with a hinged door 8 and a suitable lock 9 for the door. On the top of the mail box is an inverted U-shaped hanger 10 which extends longitudinally thereof and in which peripherally grooved wheels 11 are mounted as at 12, the said wheels engaging and being adapted to run on the elevated track rope.

Each end post 1 has a bracket shaft 13 on which is mounted a peripherally grooved operating wheel 14 which is provided with a hand crank 15. An operating cord 16 engages and connects the wheels 14 and has its ends attached as at 17 to the hanger 10 of the mail boX. Each intermediate post also has a bracket shaft 18 on which a supporting roller 19 is mounted. The operating cord bears on the said rollers as shown in detail in Fig. 7, said rollers supporting the operating cord and preventing it from unduly sagging.

It will be understood that by turning the diameter corresponding with the track rope,

the ends of the track rope 5 being connected to the ends of the pipe as shown and the pipeends and track rope ends being secured on the brackets 3 by clips 6. The operating cord 16 is guided around the curve and held on the rollers 19 by pulleys 21 which are connected by rods 22 to the posts on which the curved portion of the track is mounted.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I would have it understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion and construction of the several parts without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The herein described mail transporting apparatus comprising end posts and intermediate posts, cable supporting brackets secured to the upper ends of said end posts and projecting outwardly and upwardly above the same, a cable supported in the upper end of said bracket, shafts journaled through the end posts adjacent their upper ends, wheels carried by the outer end of said shaft and means for rotating said wheels, horizontally extending arms carried by said intermediate posts adjacent their upper ends, rollers carried by said arms, a box having a hanger with grooved wheels therein adapted to engage the cable for sliding movement thereon, an operating cable secured to the opposite sides of the box and. trained over the grooved wheels on the opposite end posts whereby upon rotation of said wheels in either direction the box will be drawn from one post to the other over said cables, substantially as set forth.

2. A mail transporting apparatus comprising end posts and intermediate posts, said intermediate posts located between said end posts in direct alinement therewith at spaced distance apart, brackets secured to the upper ends of the said posts and eX- tending beyond the edges of the upper ends thereof, said brackets inclined outwardly and upwardly, supporting cables secured in the upper ends of said brackets, a box having a bracket on its upper end having grooved wheels therein adapted to be secured over the cables for sliding movement thereon, shafts journaled transversely through the end posts, grooved wheels on the shafts, a cable connected at its ends to the opposite ends of said box and trained over the grooved wheels in the end posts whereby upon the rotation of said wheels the boX will be drawn from one post to the other, and horizontal arms carried by said intermediate posts at a point adjacent their upper end, rollers positioned in said arms for holding said operating cable-taut, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM J. H. SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses OTTO J. ZAGER, G. F. WILorroBER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents. Washington, I). G." 

